Machine for automatically packing things in overlying tiers



Dec. 17, 1968 J, DARDAlNE ET AL 3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS Filed Nov.2, 1966 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 /N VENTORS EDGAR JEAN MARCEL DQRDAINE 'JE4NLac 552R Y Dec. 17, 1968 J DARDAlNE ET AL 3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS Filed Nov.2, 1966 15 Shecs-Sheet 2 Eve/m c/EAN MARCEZ [hem/we dew/v -Luc 5ERR\/Dec. 17, 1968 J DARDAlNE ET AL 3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS 15Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 2, 1966 wow mom

9* mix I now IN v5 NT'ORS E0642 (JEfl/Y MHRCEL Demo/NE 17, 1968 E. J.-M. DARDAINE ET AL MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYINGTIERS Filed NOV. 2. 1966 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 m/ VEA/TORS EDGAR JEANM02051. DqFwAm E L/EHN L uc BEER y 5) A 770 NEYS Dec. 17, 1968 E. M.DARDAINE ET AL 3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS Filed Nov.2, 1966 l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 305a NE I 345 34 fl Ens/2;? JEA MARCELDARDA/NE JEAN A uc BERRY Dec. 17, 1968 E. .1. M. DARDAINE ET AL3,415,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS Filed Nov.2, 1966 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 fpc-mn J54 MnRc EL DARDfl/A/E E/QN lac BERRYDec. 17, 1968 J. M. DARDAINE ET L 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 2, 1966unmllmumfllfl iy yyyg WVENTORS Even? JEAN MA'RCEL DHRDfl/NE ATTNEvs JEANL uc BERRY i 4L. 1 1 J f. 1 i l a, s w -FL l l r L. z. u o. 8v .w D

.. .3 i E- ROW E. J. M. DARDAINE ET AL 3,416,675

Dec. 17, 1968 MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYINGTIERS Filed Nov. '2, 1966 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 Dec. 17, 1965- JUAEDAINE ETAL 3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY- PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS Filed Nov.2. 1966 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 08-09 ffi wow fl l 14 O n PDEEUDDBFfi 8w I. 5w mafia DEDDUUUDDDDD DUEUUDUBDUDU UQUUUDDUUDU 1968 E. J. M. DARDAlN ETAL3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS 15Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Nov. 2, 1966 08 0M? UUDUUDDUUUDD UDDDDDUUUUUUUUUUUDDUUUUD INVENTOQS EDGAR Jen/v MARCEI. Damon/NE JEfl/V'LUCBERRY Dec.17, 1968 E. J. M. DARDAINE ET AL 3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS 15Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Nov. 2. 1966 /N VENTURE 000 A00 moo Eve/m JEANM4RCEL DARDAINE cJE/QN" L uc BERRY Dec. 17, 1958 J, M DARDAINE ET AL3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS Filed Nov.2. 1966 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 0 10 609d 6090 g g/ 2090 EDGAR JEAN MARcEL.DflRDfl/NE JEAN *Luc BERRY D86. 17, 1958 J M DARDAINE ET AL 3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS l5Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Nov. 2, 1966 INVENTORS Eve/we JEAN MARCEL.DflRDA/NE Arm/Mays JEAN-Luc BERRY Dec. 17, 1968 E. J. M. DARDAlNE ET AL3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS Filed Nov.2, 1966 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTDRS EDGAR JEAN MARCEL DARDAINE JeA/v.uc BERRY Dec. 17, 1963 I J, QARDNNE ET AL 3,416,675

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PACKING THINGS IN OVERLYING TIERS l5Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed NOV. 2. 1966 a BY M 0 ATTZNEYS.

United States Patent 4,816 39 Claims. (Cl. 214-164) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A machine for automatically selecting, stacking in overlyingrelationship and then packing articles such as pots of yogurt and thelike, comprising in combination an arranging device receiving the potsand like articles all lying on a same level and aligned in a number ofparallel rows, said arranging device comprising means for driving saidrows of pots in translation and selecting among these rows a constantnumber of pots so as to deliver them in groups containing a same numberof pots; a rotary distributor receiving the groups of pots delivered bythe arranging device and comprising means for collecting these groups ofpots on a constant level and carrying them to different levels, and adevice receiving the groups of pots delivered by the rotary device andcomprising means for superposing said groups of pots so as to form a setof pots comprising a plurality of overlying rows of pots, said arrangingdevice and rotary distributor being driven in synchronism by a commondriving mechanism in order to continuously perform the successiveautomatic driving steps of the pots.

The present invention essentially relates to a machine for automaticallyselecting, stacking and then packing things such as pots of yogurt, jarsof jam, parcels of biscuits, etc.

Some products, in particular the pots of yogurt, are often presented ordisplayed to the customers, mainly in the so-called self-service shopsor stores, not separately, but by groups or sets of four to six pots andeven more. These pots are packed in a small bag or box made fromcardboard or plastic material, forming a kind of tunnel open at both ofits side ends and provided, at its upper portion, with a handle enablingto take easily hold thereof. The pots are arranged in these small bagsor boxes into overlying rows or tiers, for example in two rows of twopots or two rows of three pots, in order to give the packing a shape orformation as compact as possible.

The manufacturers who supply these shops or stores are thereforecompelled to deliver their pots of yogurt ready for sale, that is placedin the small bags in question as mentioned hereinabove.

Now, the pots of yogurt are coming out from the filling machines on beltconveyors on which they are arranged in any number of rows, all of thepots being of course located at the same level.

When the pots concerned are made of plastic material, the fillingmachine receives the plastic material in the form of plane, generallysquare sheets or foils; these sheets pass prior to the filling operationinto forming or shaping dies wherein they are deformed by suction so topresent a number of hollows or recesses adapted to receive the yogurt orthe like. After filling up of the hollows or recesses, the sheet isautomatically cut along its parts which have not been deformed, so as toprovide a corresponding number of pots of yogurt, independent from eachother. In general, the dies are adapted to form, in such a square sheet,nine hollows which of course yield nine pots arranged or distributed inthree rows of three pots. The operation being performed continuously,the pots are coming out from the machine in three continuous rows.

The means presently used in the industry to place these pots, whichtherefore always present themselves at the same level and in any numberof rows, but generally in three rows, into the small bags which will beput up for sale later on, merely consists in instructing employees tograsp by hand a number of pots, four pots for instance, for placing theminto a small bag upon superposing them two by two for example, then tointroduce the small bag, still by hand, into a closing machine whichautomatically seals both of its upper edges against each other. Such amanual operating step involves considerable costs and breaks off theautomatic process of handling pots.

The object of the present invention is to dispense with these manualoperations, and therefore, to provide a machine capable of effecting, inan entirely automatic manner, the positioning of the pots within thesmall bags. This machine should be adapted to the existing or availablefilling machines, that is it should be capable of receiving any numberof rows of pots and of delivering small bags comprising any number ofpots arranged in superposed rows. These machines should in particular beadapted to receive pots arranged into three rows such as they aredelivered by a great number of existing filling machines and to deliverthem in packed condition within small bags mostly containing four pots,superposed two by two, as required by the sale shops, or stores.

The machine according to the invention is characterized in that itcomprises in combination: an arranging device receiving the pots or thelike all located at the same level and aligned in a number of parallelrows, for example in three rows, this arranging device comprising meansfor carrying along or driving said rows of pots in translation andselecting, among these rows, a constant number of pots so as to deliverthem in groups containing an equal number of pots, for example two pots;a rotary distributor receiving the groups of pots delivered by thearranging device and comprising means for collecting, packing orgathering up or recovering these groups of pots at a constant level andfor bringing them to different levels, for example to two differentlevels; a conditioning device receiving the groups of pots delivered bythe rotary distributor as well as packings adapted to contain them,these packings being in the form of pockets with two walls and beingdelivered in a fiat position, said conditioning device comprising meansfor superposing said groups of pots so as to form a pot unit or assemblycomprising a plurality of rows of superimposed pots, for example a setof four pots comprising two rows of two superposed pots, means forcarrying along or driving these sets or assemblies of pots thus formedtowards an inserting member adapted to introduce them into a packing,means to open each aforesaid packing each time a set of pots is broughtforward thereto so as to enable the penetration of said inserting memberand means for driving or carrying along each packing filled with potstowards a closing or sealing station; the arranging device, the rotarydistributor and the conditioning device being driven in synchronism by acommon driving mechanism with a view to continuously carry out thesuccessive steps of automatically packing the pots.

It is readily appreciated that the machine may be supplied or fed byfilling systems of conventional type, while delivering these pot-s underconditions required for offering them for sale, since theconveyor-selector is adapted to select, among ,the three rows of potswhich are presented thereto, two potsl only which it delivers at regularintervals to the rotary distributor and to the conditioning device thatare provided for superposing and packing these groups of two pots.

According to a characteristic feature of the invention, the arrangingdevice may comprise a conveyor-selector with which is associated atransfer member located at the delivery or outgoing end of saidconveyor-selector for the pots or the like, said transfer memberreceiving each group of pots delivered by the conveyor-selector andcomprising guiding means in extension of said conveyorselector and meansfor driving or carrying along in translation said groups of pots alongsaid guiding means.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the aforesaidarranging device comprises in combination means for distributing thepots or the like in groups comprising a same number of pots disposed inthe same manner, directional means for directing each group towards aguiding member and driving means for driving or carrying each groupalong said guiding member and for delivering it to the rotarydistributor.

The arranging device according to this alternative embodiment isadvantageous in that it positively guides the groups of pots up to therotary device, thereby enabling to obtain a strictly continuous motionof these pots, hence a very big rate of flow.

Other features of the invention will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of example only:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the top of the machine according to theinvention, this machine being provided with an arranging deviceaccording to a first form of embodiment comprising a conveyor-selectorand a transfer member;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1, seenfrom the side of the conveyorselector of said arranging device;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of the machine of FIGURE 1, as viewed from theside of the conditioning device;

FIGURE 5 is a partial view showing the cams controlling the advance ofthe rows of pots on the conveyorselector;

FIGURE 6 is a partial elevational view of the machine of FIGURE 1, asviewed from the side of said conveyorselector and more particularlyshowing the transfer member;

FIGURE 7 is a section through the rotary distributor, passing throughthe axis of the plate or drum;

FIGURE 8 is a partial section taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIGURE7;

FIGURE 9 is a partial elevational view of the machine of FIGURE 1, asseen from the side of the conditioning device; this view moreparticularly showing the means for inserting the pots of yogurt into thepackings;

FIGURE 10 is a partial elevational view corresponding to FIGURE 9 andshowing the distributor for small packing bags;

FIGURE 11 is a partial view of the distributor of FIG- URE 10 showingthe retaining mechanism for the packings as seen from above;

FIGURE 12 shows the mechanism for opening the packings;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a small bag as delivered by themachine, that is comprising four pots of yogurt disposed into two rowsof two superposed pots;

FIGURES 14a to 14d diagrammatically show how the pots travel along theconveyor-selector, are driven or carried along by the rotary distributorand arrive, in overlying rows, at the conditioning device, the machinebeing assumed to be viewed from above;

FIGURES 15a to 15d also are diagrammatic showings corresponding to thatof the preceding FIGURES 14a to 14d, the machine being assumed to beseen in elevation, in order to make apparent the vertical movement ofthe rotary distributor;

FIGURE 16a shows a bottom view of an arranging device according to analternative form of embodiment the directional means of which arepositioned to make one of its strainers, passageways of channelscommunicate with the guiding member, this arranging device being usableinstead of the conveyor-selector and of the transfer member shown inFIGURES 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6;

FIGURE 16b is a partial view of the arranging device of FIGURE 16a, thedirectional means being positioned to make a second strainer, passagewayor channel communicate with said guiding member;

FIGURE 160 is a partial view of the arranging device of FIGURE 16a, thedirectional means being positioned to make the third strainer,passageway or channel communicate with said guiding member;

FIGURE 17 is a section taken along the line XVII XVII of FIGURE 16ashowing the position of the pots with respect to the paddle or vanechains and to the guide ramps in the corresponding portion of theconveyors;

FIGURE 18 is a section taken along the line XVIII-- XVIII of FIGURE 16a,showing the position of the pots with respect to the paddle or vanechains and to the guiding ramps of the corresponding portion of theconveyor;

FIGURE 19 is an elevational partially sectional view of the selectordevice consisting of rotary drum provided with radial fingers;

FIGURE 20 shows the drum of FIGURE 19 viewed from the left, only onequarter of this drum having been shown in order to simplify the drawing;

FIGURE 21 diagrammatically shows one of the sets of fingers of the drumin engagement with the pots;

FIGURE 22 is a plan view for driving or moving the pots along theguiding member;

FIGURE 23 is a section taken along the line XXIII- )OGII of FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 24 is a partial sectional view of said directional means;

FIGURE 25 diagrammatically shows the kinematic driving chain of thearranging device according to said alternative form of embodiment aswell as further devices forming the packing machine according to theinvention;

FIGURE 26 shows an adjustable coupling device enabling to effect asynchronous driving of the arranging device by the general drive motor.

According to the form of embodiment shown in FIG- URES 1 to 15 of thedrawings, the machine according to the invention, essentially comprisesas is more particularly shown in FIGURE 1:

An arranging device itself consisting of a conveyorselector whichreceives pots of yogurt P or the like, arranged in three parallel rowsand delivered in the direction F by an automatic filling machine (notshown) and drives or moves them in the same direction according to anintermittent translative motion and of a transfer member 200 followingthis conveyor-selector and aligned with this latter, this transfermember receiving the pots delivered by the conveyor-selector and pushingthem in translation in the same direction F A rotary distributor 300following the transfer member and the axis of rotation of which issubstantially lying in the medial plane of the conveyor-selector and ofthe transfer member, that is in the medial or central plane of the pathof the pots, this distributor driving or carrying along according to arotary movement in the direction F the pots it receives from theconveyor-selector through the medium of the transfer member and bringingthem up to different levels;

A conditioning device 400 which follows the rotary distributor and islying in parallel relation to the conveyorselector and to the transferdevice on the one hand and in tangential relation to the rotarydistributor on the other hand, this conditioning device driving,carrying along or moving, in the direction F opposite to F the potsdelivered by the rotary distributor in order to cause them to entersmall bags and bringing the small bags filled with pots always in thedirection F to a machine 500, known per se, which folds back one overthe other and seals to each other the upper flanges or edges of saidsmall bags.

(A) ARRANGING DEVICE (FIRST EMBODIMENT) (a) Conveyor-selector Theconveyor-selector comprises a framework consisting of a frame ofgenerally rectangular shape, 101, supported on feet or stands 102 and onwhich is mounted a belt conveyor consisting here of a paddle chain 103which runs over two supporting rolls one of which is mounted on a driveshaft 104 located at that end of the frame 101 which corresponds to thedelivery or outlet of the conveyor-selector, whereas the other ismounted on a loose shaft 105, lying at the other end of the frame 101.The drive shaft 104 is uniformly rotated by means of a sprocket wheel106, mounted on one of its ends and operatively connected, through themedium of a sprocket chain 107, to a sprocket wheel 108 keyed to anintermediate drive shaft 109 one sprocket wheel of which is operativelyconnected to the general drive motor of the installation as will beexplained hereinafter.

The conveyor-selector is provided, at its upper part, with two beams orcross-members 111, integral with standards, posts or uprights 112secured to the frame 101. Two parallel cam carrying shafts 113 and 114,comprising each one a set of three cams 115a, 115b, 1150 and 116a, 116b,1160, respectively, are rotatably mounted at both ends of the beams 111.

The shaft 113 is provided with a sprocket wheel 117 operativelyconnected through the medium of a sprocket chain 118 to a sprocket wheel119 keyed to the intermediate drive shaft 109. The shafts 113 and 114are integral with each other in rotation owing to a transmission chain121 which passes over their respective sprocket wheels 120 and 122.

Above the paddle chain 103 is mounted a system for intermittentlydriving or carrying away the three rows of pots. This system consists ofthree pairs of slideways 123a, 1231; and 1230 formed each one by twostructural channel sections the open faces or flanges of which areconfronting each other and are separated by a spacing slightly greaterthan the width of the upper edge of the pots, so that when these latterare caused to move between said slideways, their upper edge movesbetween the flanges of the structural sections. Both structural sectionsof a same pair of slideways are secured at their both ends on clevis124a, 124b, 1240 and 125a, 125b, 125a having the shape of an invertedchannel. Each clevis carries at its upper part a bracket or the like126a, 126b, 126a and 127a, 127b, 127C, respectively, each bracketresting on one of the cams of the shaft 113 and of the shaft 114. Eachpair of slideways forms, together with both clevis which are associatedtherewith, a rigid assembly or unit which rests, through the medium ofthe aforesaid brackets, on one of the cams of each one of the sets ofcams, and therefore, follows the vertical upward and downwarddisplacements imparted thereto by these two cams during their rotation.Two locking bars 129 engaged in slots or notches 130 of the beams 111prevent the pairs of slideways from being moved in longitudinaltranslation.

Each set of cams, provided at each one of the ends of theconveyor-selector, comprises, as may be seen on FIG- URE 5, which showsthe cams mounted on the shaft 113, three identical cams, such as a,1151), 1150, having each one two flat parts such as 115a-1 and 115a-2,forming therebetween an angle of about 60 and connected to each other bytwo portions having a rounded profile, such as 115a-3 and 115a-4. Thethree cams of a same set are staggered or set off with respect to eachother by so that for a rotation of 360 of the cam-carrying shaft, thereare three positions staggered or offset by 120 with respect to eachother, for each one of which the flat parts of two cams lie in a samehorizontal plane.

Both sets of cams carried by the shafts 113 and 114 are strictlyidentical as to their shape and to their respective orientations andboth carns which support a same pair of slideways, such as the cams 115aand 116a for instance, are aligned. It results therefrom that when bothsets of cams are rotating in synchronism, owing to their operativeconnection through the sprocket chain 121, the pairs of slideways willalternately and regularly move, during a rotation of 360, to a highposition and to a low position, one pair of slideways being in a highposition, while the two others are in a low position.

The size of the cams and/ or the size of the clevis to which theslideways are secured are depending upon the height of the pots P andare such that when a slideway is in the low position, the pots rest onthe paddle chain 103 and are therefore carried away in translation bythe latter, the structural sections then assuming no function or at themost a guiding function, whereas in the high position on the contrarythe pots are lifted above the paddle chain and rest through their upperedges or flanges onto both lower flanges of the slideways, so that inthis case, the pots cannot be carried away by the paddle chain.

It is seen that owing to this device, the three rows of pots advance ormove forward, not homogeneously but intermittently, two rows of potssimultaneously advancing whereas the third row remains stationary.Moreover, the travel and stop periods are the same for the three rows sothat the conveyor-selector uniformly delivers two by two the pots itselects by turns among the three rows of pots.

The conveyor-selector further comprises means for periodically lockingand releasing the pots, these means consisting of an L-shapedretractable stop provided at its outgoing or delivery end and secured ontwo arms or the like 131 integral with a shaft 132 pivotally mounted onpillars or uprights 133, integral with the beams 111. The stop 130 mayassume two positions: a low position (shown in solid lines on FIGURE 6),in which it engages the path of travel of the pots P and therefore stopsor blocks the latter, and a lifted position (shown in dashed and dottedlines on FIGURE 6) in which it is disengaged from this path andtherefore enables the pots to pass. The stop 130 is actuated foroscillation or swinging motion by a cam 135, secured onto thecam-carrying shaft 113 and formed with three peaks or apexes 135a, 135b,1350, uniformly distributed on its periphery. This earn 135 acts upon acranked or bent lever or the like 136, integral with the arms 131,through the medium of a cam bowl, roller or follower or the like 137,integral with said lever. A return or drawback spring 138, secured onthe one hand to the end of the lever 136 and on the other hand, to theframe of the conveyor-selector, returns said lever back to its high orupper position which corresponds to the low position of the stop 130.

It may be seen that when the cam-carrying shaft 113 rotates aboutitself, the cam 135 causes the stop 130 to be retracted three timesduring a rotation of 360, thus periodically releasing, disengaging orfreeing the pots fed by the conveyor-selector. Owing to its angular orL- shape, the lower bend 130a of the stop 130, while letting the potspass, remains in engagement with the upper face of these latter and thestop immediately drops back again as soon as a transverse row of potshas left the slideways of the conveyor-selector in order to move intothe transfer device and thus stops the next transverse row of pots. Itis for this purpose that the peaks or apexes 135a, 135b and 1350 of thecam 135 were given a steep profile 135a1, 135b-1, 1350-1, which enablesthe immediate falling back of the stop 130 as soon as the lower part ofthe latter is no longer in contact with the top or upper face of thepots.

(b) Transfer member The transfer member comprises a frameworkessentially consisting of a rigid frame 201, in extension of the frame101 of the conveyor-selector, this frame carrying at its upper part twocross-members 202 supported by standards or uprights 203 integral withthe frame 201, these cross-members 202 being in extension of the beams111 of the conveyor-selector.

The transfer member comprises means for guiding the pots which consistof three pairs of rails or the like, 204a, 204b, 2040 (see FIGURE 1)which are in extension of the slideways 123a, 123b, 1230 of theconveyor-selector but lying at a level substantially lower than theselatter, so that the pots are passing from the slideways to the railswhen the stop 130 retracts thereby falling down by an amountcorresponding to this difference between levels. To assist the passageof the pots moved, driven or carried along by the paddle-chain as soonas the stop 130 retracts for enabling their forward movement, guidingramps such as 2050, are provided which are formed with a portion such as20512-1 sloping with an angle of about 45 and with a horizontal portionsuch as 20542-2 (FIGURE 6).

The transfer member also comprises means for moving or carrying the potsalong the rails 2040, 204b, 2040. On each one of both of thecross-members 202 are mounted two identical sprocket chains 206, eachone of which meshes with two sprocket wheels 207 and 208. Both sprocketwheels 207 are keyed to the same shaft 209, whereas both sprocket wheels208 are keyed to a same shaft 210. The shaft 210 comprises in addition asprocket pinion 211, operatively connected through a sprocket chain 212to a sprocket pinion 140 keyed to the shaft 104 which is driven by thedrive motor of the installation as previously described.

The pots which arrived on the rails 204a, 204b, 2040 are moved orcarried in translation along these rails owing to a horizontal push-baror the like 215 (see in particular FIGURE 6) extending substantially tothe whole width of the transfer member and carried by two supports 216secured to two arms 217. The arms 217 are secured at their upper part at218 to the sprocket chains 206 and comprise at their lower partelongated slots or holes 21.9 in which is engaged a guide rod or bar 220secured to two vertical posts or struts 221 depending from the framework201.

It is seen that when the sprocket chains 206 are driven or moved by thegeneral drive motor of the system, they carry with them the arms 217guided at their lower part by the bar 219, so that the push or thrustbar 215 performs a cyclic motion of translation as shown in dashes anddots at B on FIGURE 6 during which movement it moves or carries alongthe pots while describing the upper portion of its path of travel.

(B) ROTARY DISTRIBUTOR The rotary distributor 300 essentially comprisesa framework or base 301 supported on legs 302, and upon which is mounteda rotary plate or drum 303 having the shape of a flattened circularcylinder carrying on its periphery four shelves or racks 3040, 304b,3040, 304d adapted to receive the pots pushed by the bar 215 of thetransfer device when they move past the rails 204a, 204b, 2040 of saidtransfer device. These shelves or racks are provided at their upper parttaken in the direction of rotation of the plate or drum, with raisededges or flanges 305a, 3051;, 3050, 305d.

The four shelves or racks are uniformly distributed on the periphery ofthe cylindrical plate or drum 303, that is they are angularly spacedfrom each other by but they are staggered or offset in height withrespect to each other; two diametrically opposite shelves or racks suchas 304a and 3040, forming a pair of shelves or racks, are both at thesame level, and likewise the shelves or racks 3041) and 304d which forma second pair of shelves or racks are both at the same level, but thepair of shelves 304a-3040 exhibits with respect to the pair of shelves30412-30411. a difference of levels equal to the half height of a pot,that is a difference of level of H 2, if H denotes the height of thepots P. In the case shown, the pair of shelves 304a304c is at a higherlevel (by H/2) than the pair 304b304d.

The shelves are given a slightly sloping position towards the axis ofthe plate or drum so as to compensate for the effect of the centrifugalforce upon the pots.

The framework 301, as shown in particular on FIG- URE 7, carries thegeneral drive motor of the system 306 which drives, through the mediumof a belt 307, a motor-variator set 308, which drives in turn, throughthe medium of a belt 309, a first worm-gear reducer 310. Thespeed-reduction gear 310 comprises a first output shaft 311 to which iskeyed a sprocket pinion 312 which through. the medium of a transmissionsprocket chain 313, drives the sprocket pinion 314 of a secondreducinggear 315 the output 316 of which is used to drive theconditioning device, as will be seen later on.

The reducing-gear 310 comprises a second output shaft 317 to which iskeyed a sprocket pinion 318 which through the medium of the transmissionsprocket chain 319 and of the sprocket wheel rotates the intermediatetransmission shaft 109.

The shaft 317 also drives through the medium of a box-coupling 320, acounter or bevel gear 321 comprising two output shafts 322 and 323arranged at right angles to each other, the reduction ratio being suchthat the shaft 322 effects one rotation of 360 while the shaft 323effects a rotation of 180 only.

The plate or drum 303 is secured to a sleeve, bushing or the like 325carried itself by a rotary shaft 326. The sleeve 325 is made integral inrotation with the shaft 326 through a key 327 driven on or fitted inboth, the aforesaid shaft 326 and a ring-shaped part 328 integral withthe sleeve 325.

, The shaft 326 is slidably mounted at its lower part, in a bearing, caror the like 330 and is supported, through the medium of a thrust block331, by a clevis 332 provided at its upper part or top with a rod, stemor shank 333, engaged or fitted through the medium of the bushings 334,into a bore or recess 335 of the shaft 326. The clevis 332 carries arotary cam fol-lower, bowl or roller 337 which bears against a cam 338keyed to the shaft 322 of the reducing gear 321.

The profile of the cam 338 (see FIGURE 8) is designed to impart to theaforesaid shaft and therefore to the plate or drum 303 supported by thisshaft, an alternative upwand and downward motion. A spring 340, arrangedin coaxial relationship with the shaft and hearing by its upper or topend against a stop, collar or the like 341, integral with the aforesaidannular member 328 and by its lower or bottom end against a stop meansor the like 342, rotatably mounted on a stationary bearing 343 integralwith a stationary casing or housing 344 which is integral with theframework 301.

The function of the spring 340 is to enable a vertical movement oftranslation of the plate or drum 303 with suitable resilientrelationship, while avoiding any sudden motion of this plate or drumlikely to throw the pots on the shelves out of balance. This spring isactually compressed during the downward motion of the plate or drum sothat it slows down with downward motion and stores energy which it givesback during the upward motion.

The shaft 326 comprises for being driven in rotation a pinion 345meshing with a pinion 346 keyed to the shaft 323. Both pinions 345 and346 are arranged within the casing or oil-pan 344. The pinion 346 has aheight or thickness much greater than that of the pinion 345 so as toremain in meshing engagement therewith in spite of its vertical movementof translation.

The dimensions of the cam 338 are designed so that the displacement inthe vertical direction of the plate or drum be equal to H/2, thisdisplacement being carried out alternatively upwards and downwards, andeach 360- rotation of the cam 338 causing an upward motion of the plateor drum (and therefore of the shelves or racks) by a distance of H/2,then a downward motion of the plate or drum (hence of the shelves) bythe amount H 2. Since on the other hand the shaft 322 rotates twice asfast as the shaft 323 or in other words the cam 338 effects a720-rotation when the plate or drum carries out a 360-rotation, itresults therefrom that the plate or drum carries out the followingdisplacements in the vertical direction: a rise by T 2, a downwarddisplacement by H 2, a rise by H 2, a downward displacement by H /2.

Since each shelf or rack is designed to receive two pots each time itmoves past the rails of the transfer device, it is obvious that all theshelves or racks must be at the same level when they move past saidtransfer device. To this end, it would be sufficient to key or adjustthe cam 338 on its shaft in such a manner that the plate or drum be inthe low position when a high shelf (304a or 304c) is in front of thetransfer device and on the contrary, in the high position when a lowshelf (30417 or 304a) lies in front of the transfer device, since thedifference between the high position and the low position of the plateor drum corresponds to the difference between the levels of both pairsof shelves or racks.

(C) CONDITIONING DEVICE The conditioning device 400 essentiallycomprises a framework 401 consisting of a frame having a generallyractangular shape, supported on the one hand by legs 402 and bearing onthe other hand on the framework 301 of the rotary distributor. It isdisposed substantially in tangential relation to the plate or drum 303of the rotary distributor, so that the pots pass from the transferdevice to the conditioning device after having effected a 270- rotation.Since the plate or drum 303 carries the four shelves angularly spaced by90 with respect to each other, it results therefrom that when a shelf ofone pair of shelves moves past the transfer device to receive there twopots, a shelf of the other pair of shelves moves in front of theconditioning device to discharge or deliver there the pots it haspreviously received itself from the transfer device.

It is immediately apparent that when a high shelf such as 304a, arrivesin front of the transfer device, a low shelf such as 304d arrives infront of the conditioning device and vice versa. On the other hand, ithas been stated that the plate or drum 303 effects, at each completerotation, two upward motions and two downward motions and the cycle ofthe rotary and translative displacements of the plate or drum is suchthat it is lowered by H/Z when a high shelf such as 304:: has to movepast the transfer device, and it is lifted by H 2 when a low shelf suchas 304d has to move past this transfer device. It immediately resultstherefrom when referring to the transfer device that the plate or drumis lifted by H/2 just before a high shelf passes in front of theconditioning device and that it is lowered by H/Z just before a lowshelf passes in front of the conditioning device, so that both groups ofpots delivered by both successive shelves arrive at the conditioningdevice at two different levels spaced by a distance H which preciselycorresponds to the height of a pot.

The conditioning device comprises means for superposing the pots thusdelivered at two dilferent levels by the rotary distributor, these meansconsisting of two pairs of identical overlying rails 403 and 404vertically spaced from each other by a distance equal to or veryslightly greater than the height H of a pot. These pairs of rails aredisposed so as to enable the pots lying on the shelves to movetherebetween in order to collect or pick them up when they pass. Therails 403 receive the pots brought by the high shelves whereas the lowerrails 404 receive the pots brought by the low shelves. The pairs of rail403 and 404 are arranged in such a manner that the high shelves passabove the pair of rails 404 and the low shelves pass below the pair ofrails 404. It results therefrom that the pots immediately engage fromabove by their upper edges both rails adapted to receive them and theyare pushed over a certain length along these rails by the rear raisededges or flanges 305a, 3051;, etc. of the shelves or racks, and this aslong as these raised edges or flanges continue to engage the spacecomprised between both pairs of homologous rails.

The conditioning device further comprises an inserting member adapted tointroduce all of the pots thus conveyed to the rails 403 and 404 intothe packings. This inserting device consists of a container or the like406 having a general parallelepipedic shape open at both of its ends aswell as at its upper part or top. This container comprises a relativelynarrow forward or front portion 406a the width of which is substantiallygreater than twice the width of a pot and a rear or back portion 406];substantially wider, this rear or back portion being designed toencompass the rails 403 and 404.

The container 406 is mounted on a plate 407 itself slidably mounted onguiding bars 408 and extending in parallel relation to the rails 403 and404. This plate 407 is moved in translation on the one hand by a spring409 which tends to move it from the left to the right (when referring toFIGURE 4) and on the other hand by a swinging arm 410 to which it isconnected through the medium of a road or link 411. The arm 410 isitself moved according to a swinging motion by a cam 412 against whichit bears through the medium of a cam follower or roller 413 (see FIGURE3). The cam 412 is rotated by the general drive motor 306 through themedium of the reducing-gear 315, of its output shaft 316, of a rotarytransmission shaft 415, of a counter or bevel gear 416 having twooutputs in the input shaft 417 of which is connected to said rotarytransmission shaft 415 through the medium of a Cardan joint 418, the cam412 being mounted on one of the output shafts of the counter or bevelgear. The cam 412 is keyed to the aforesaid out put shaft in such amanner that the plate 407 and hence the container 406 effect a movementof translation from the right to the left, then a movement oftranslation from the left to the right each time the plate drum 303effects a -rotation. The container is adapted to assume two endpositions, one at the left wherein its rear portion 406 encompasses therails 403 and 404 and in which it receives the pots which are moved intranslation by a bar 420 to be described hereinafter, this positionbeing shown in solid lines on FIGURE 9 and an end position at the rightwherein it is engaged into a small bag S, this position being shown indashed and dotted lines on FIGURE 9.

The front or forward portion 406a of the container 406 is providedinside with two pairs of guides 483, 484 lying on the same level as therails 403 and 404 and coming in extension of these latter when thecontainer assumes the position shown in solid lines on FIGURE 9. Theconditioning device further comprises means for pushing the sets of potspresent on the rails 403 and 404 in order to introduce them within thecontainer 406 when this latter is in its end position at the left, thatis in the position wherein its rear or back portion 406]; embraces theright hand end of the rails 403 and 404. These means consist of avertical bar or the like 420 adapted to be inserted between the rails403 and 404 behind the set of pots carried by these rails and to causethis set of pots to slide from the left to the right so that they mayengage the guides 483, 484 which are in extension of the rails 403, 404and provided in the forward or front portion

